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CHAPTEE XV. 



BRITTLE-HOOF IGNORANCE OF FARRIERS ' IMPECITNTOSUS ' 

 SATS THE EXISTING IDEAS ON THE HORSE'S FOOT HAVE 

 SPRUNG FROM WRONG ROOTS ALTOGETHER ' FEARNLEY ' 

 SAYS THE CHARLIER 'IS THE MOST COMMON-SENSE SHOE 

 EVER INVENTED.' 



BY paying a visit to various camps of the righteous, 

 we have again come round to that touchstone ' brittle 

 hoof.' 



All shod horses suffer more or less from brittle 

 hoof; it is only a question as to the extent of the 

 disease in any given instance. Heavily shod horses 

 that have to keep back heavy loads, by either 

 slipping or knuckling-over when going down hill, 

 and have to make that other unnatural exertion of 

 digging in their toes to start a load, or draw it up 

 hill, are the worst sufferers. On looking at their 

 feet, it will be found that the farrier has had a call 

 made upon his ingenuity to get nails into places 

 where they would hold in the horn, by driving them 

 either askant, or else far up into it, or both. By so 

 doing, he is only heightening the difficulty he will 

 have to encounter when the next shoeing comes 

 round. 



At the risk of appearing tiresome, we will repeat 



